North American steel industry and automotive manufacturers
collaborate to further advance the use of steel in future vehicles

DETROIT, June 17 -- Through collaborative efforts with automakers, the
North American steel industry is continuing to reinvent its advanced steel
technologies to meet stringent requirements for safer, fuel efficient and
environmentally friendly vehicles, according to Ron Krupitzer, vice
president of automotive applications for AISI's Steel Market Development
Institute (SMDI). Krupitzer discussed the importance of steel in future
vehicles in a testimony at the Congressional Steel Caucus hearing yesterday
in Washington D.C.

"Over the years, automotive steel has reinvented itself repeatedly, as
the requirements for newer, safer, more fuel-efficient vehicles have become
more demanding," Krupitzer said. "The use of new advanced high-strength
steel makes vehicles considerably stronger, while requiring less mass,
which increases fuel economy. Steel's extreme energy efficiency and high
rate of recyclability make it the ideal material of choice for new
vehicles."

Krupitzer also noted that collaboration among steel and automotive
companies is critical for future vehicle development efforts. He discussed
the significant accomplishments of this partnership with the Steel Caucus.
For example, the U.S. steel industry has reduced the amount of energy
required to produce one ton of steel by more than 60 percent. SMDI member
companies brought new ideas to the global automotive industry through a
series of projects, including UltraLight Steel AutoBody (ULSAB), UltraLight
Steel Auto Closures, Suspensions and ULSAB-Advanced Vehicle Concepts. He
also pointed out that the average recycling rate for automotive steel is 97
percent, making it the most recycled material in the industry.